Box or crate.



H. BROWN.

BOX 0R CRATE. 7 APPLICATION FILED FEB. 10, 1913.

Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HUGH BROWN, 0F BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN.

BOX on CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedMal'. 23, 1915.

Application filed March 10, 1913. Serial No. 753,311.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUGH BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Battle Creek, county of Calhoun, and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boxes or Crates, of. which the following is a specification. 4

This invention relates to improvements-in boxes or crates.

The main objects of this invention are: To provide an improved box or crate which may be partially assembled and stored or shipped in knock-down or collapsed form and quickly and easily set up or erected and again'knocked down or collapsed if desired.

Another object is to provide improved joint means between the various parts.

Further objects and objects relating to economies of construction and details of operation will definitely appear from the description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification.

The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims. I

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanving drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure I is a perspective view of a structure embodying the features of my invention. Fig. II'is a horizontal section on a line corresponding to line 22 of Figs. I and III. Fig. III'is a vertical section on a line corresponding to line 33 of Figs. I and II. Fig. IV is an enlarged detail perspective showing one of the corners of the box or crate and one of the coupling rings of the structure shown in Fig. I.- Flg. V

is a perspective view of one of the end panel joint slides 9. Fig. VI is a detail perspective view showing a pair of the'frame pieces and the form of the joints therebetween. Fig. VII is a detail perspective View of the frame bar 3 of Fig. VI reversed. Fig. VIII is a plan view showing the side wall'panels and their frame pieces in extended position. Fig. IX is a perspective view of a modified structure, the modification being in the means for securing the binding wires to gether for closing the box or retaining it in its closed position. Fig. X is a detail of a modification showing features adapted to a mortise and tenon joint.

In the drawing, similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the drawings, and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Referring to the drawing, I provide a collapsible frame consisting ofupright pieces 1, 1, bottom pieces 2 and top pieces 3 for each end of the box. Each frame piece is provided with a beveled and shouldered joint 1 having corresponding oblique surfaces 5 fitting one against the other. By thus beveling, a thin joint fits against a narroW shoulder and the parts are substantially full strength. The side wall panels 6 are secured to these frame pieces. The box is reinforced and the :Wall connected by means of the binding wires 7 which are secured by the staples 17, the staples being preferably the means for securing the panels to the frame pieces. The binding wires form flexible connections for the walls so that they may be extended in the flat form, as shown in Fig. VIII. When the box is set up or erected, the walls with their frame pieces are swung to position to close the joints of the frame pieces at the corners.

The end panels 8 are removably secured by means of the slides 9. These slides are formed of sheet metal and are channelin'Fig. II, so that said slides cannot move The end panels are provided with'grooves 12 in their innerlaterally out of ,the kerfs.

sides adjacent to their ends to receive the flanges on arms 13 of the slide members. The end walls are embraced by the slides so as to be effectively reinforced thereby and supported against an inward thrust or strain.

, In setting up the box, the side walls are swung upright with the tongues, and the joint of the bottom piece 2 and the uprights 1 is closed. The end walls are then placed in the slides and serve to retain the box in its erected, position; The end panels also tend to hold the slides in the kerfs of the frame pieces. The top Wall is then closed and secured as by means of thesplit rings 14 which engage the eyes 15 in the ends of the binding wires 7.

In themodification shown in Fig. IX, a coupling cord 16 is threaded through the eyes and secured at its ends. By forming the joints on the end pieces as I have illustrated, the box can be quickly set up or knocked down without danger of splitting the frame pieces and the joints are closed merely by swinging the parts into place.

In Fig. X I show a modification in which upright 1 is provided with a mortise 18 receiving thev tenon 17 on frame member My improved box may be quickly set up without the use of nails and again knocked down should. occasion require. It is strong and rigid when set up, although it may be made of light-material.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in the form preferred by me. \Vhile I contemplate other modifications than that shown in Fig. VIII, I have not attempted to illustrate or describe the same,

as fl'Olll-iliG disclosures made my invention can be readily adapted as circumstancesmay require.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. In a knockdown box or crate, the com bination of frame pieces, each frame piece having at each end a beveled shoulderedjoint part, adapted to engage the come sponding part on the adjacent frame piece, side wall panels secured to said frame pieces, binding wires constituting flexible connections for the walls whereby they may be extended into the fiat form with the frame pieces end to end, the ends of the binding wires being provided with eyes, means for connectingithe eyes at the ends of the binding wires, end wall panels having grooves in their inner sides adjacent to their vertical edges,-and sheet metal slides arranged in diagonally disposed kerfs in the inner corners of the vertical frame pieces,said'slides being adapted to embrace the ends and-en gage the grooves of the end panels.

2. In a knockdown box or crate, the combination of frame pieces, each frame piece at each end being provided with a beveled shoulder joint part adapted to engage the corresponding part on the adjacent frame piece, side wall panels secured to said frame pieces, connections for the walls whereby they may be extended into the flat form with the frame pieces end to end, end wall panels having grooves in their inner sides adjacent to their vertical edges, and sheet metal slides arrangcdin diagonally disposed kerfs in the inner corners of the vertical frame binding wires constituting flexible pieces, said slides being adapted to embrace the ends and engage the grooves of the end panels.

3. In a knockdown box or crate, the combination of frame pieces having shouldered joints, side wall panels secured to said frame pieces, flexible connections for the walls whereby they may be extended into the flat form with the frame pieces end to end, end wall panels, and sheet metal slides arranged in diagonally disposed kerfs in the inner corners of the opposed frame pieces, said slides being adapted toembrace the ends and engage the grooves of the end panels.

4:. In a box or crate, the combination of frame pieces havingshouldered joints, side wall panels secured to said frame pieces, flexible connections for the side wall panels whereby they may be extended into the flat form with the frame pieces end to end, end wall panels, and slide members arranged on opposite frame pieces and engaging said frame pieces and said end wall panels and securing said end wall panels in place whereby said end wall panels support the box or crate in erected position, all coacting subgitaitially as described for the purpose speci- 5. In a knockdown box or crate, the com bination of side panels having flexible connections, frame pieces on said panels adapted to fit together to make a tight shoulder joint, end Wall panels and slides arranged in kerfs in opposed frame pieces for holding said end wall panels in place, said slides being retained between the sidewall panels and the edges of said end wall panels when the box is in erected position whereby said slides are securely held in place by means of the engagement of side wall panels therewith. i

6. In a, knockdown box or crate, the combination of frame pieces, side wall panels secured to said frame pieces and flexibly connected, end wall panels provided with grooves near the edges thereof, diagonal kerfs provided in the opposed frame pieces to which said end wall panels are secured, and slides engaging in said kerfs and said grooves in the end wall panels and retained in said kerfs by the engagement of the side wall panels with the sides of said slides whereby said crate is secured in erected position. A

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two witnesses.

mien BROWN. [1a. 5.

Witnesses:

M. PHINA Woonnrrrr, .MARGAR'ET GLASGOW. 

